His big issue: destigmatizing former
meth-lab homes. “I’ve appreciated how
involved REALTORS® are, especially in
the political process,” he says, “the way
they come down to testify and reach out
to do calls for action. The depth at which
REALTORS® are involved in the community is something that is very important.”

Jim JohnstonCity Councilmanin Pocatello, Idaho,and a REALTOR®His big issue:economic development. “REALTORS®should be reflecting the values of thecommunity. They’re in tune with the pulseof the population,” says Johnston, ABR,CRS, “so when they give me suggestionsfor our community, I listen. When those Ido business with every day are willing tosupport me in public office, that’s huge.”Gene McLaurinNorth CarolinaState Senator

His big issue:Reforming lawsgoverning real estate restrictions. “I rep-resent a rural part of North Carolina, andthe real estate industry is so crucial to oureconomic recovery,” he says. “The ruralareas have not really recovered from thedownturn. REALTORS® have done a greatjob of seeing the larger picture and notjust advocating for resort-like areas.”

power of Ryour impact

Power of R showcases the value of the REALTOR®
organization and the impact of REALTORS® in action.

Share your stories on Facebook or Twitter using #PowerofR, or contact Graham Wood at gwood@realtors.org. Read more at realtor.org/powerofr.

Michelle Del Rosario and former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, left.

Grateful for the Support

Backing from the REALTORS® Political Action Committee has helpedcandidates across the country advance the REALTOR® cause.

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Outside the Party Line

Michelle Del Rosario wants to give people options—and we’re
not talking real estate. She’s giving them a choice at the ballot
box. Growing increasingly disillusioned with Hawaii’s two-party
political system, the principal broker of Maui & Co. Real Estate,
Makawao, on the island of Maui, teamed up with former Maui
Mayor Charmaine Tavares to form the Hawaii Independent
Party. Though HIP is in its infancy (it became official in February), the party has big aspirations: Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi
Hannemann has announced that he will seek the governorship
in November on the HIP ticket.

Del Rosario, the former vice chair of the Democratic Party ofHawaii, says that HIP “evolved organically” during discussionsshe had with Tavares. “We asked each other, ‘Do we vote theparty ticket when we go to the election box?’ No, not typically,”Del Rosario recalls. “Today, I could have a larger impact sup-porting a third party. ... Every state has a process to start a newpolitical party. We don’t have all the answers, but we’re going tofigure it out along the way.”Hannemann says he decided to run for governor as a HIPcandidate in response to “people’s frustration with the statusquo in Hawaii politics. HIP is about Hawaii and putting the inter-ests of our people first.”

$8.1M Raised by RPAC in 2013Number of state and local candidates supportedby NAR independent expenditures in 2012–13

To learn more about RPAC and how you can get involved, visit http://realtoractioncenter.com/rpac.Number of REALTOR® candidatessupported in the same period 494 137